Honda, Yamaha or Harleys, and why?

Honda, Yamaha or Harleys, and why?

Harleys are great bikes, if you like cruisers. My only problem with them is that they're expensive. And they don't make much besides cruisers. (OTOH it's really a little disillusioning today to see how much PLASTIC is used in Japanese bikes.)

The Japanese mfgrs are all very good. They make bikes that are reliable and long-lived, very economical both in initial purchase cost and in maintenance, very well-designed and high build quality. They just give you a better deal for your money. Plus you can buy Japanese sportbikes, standards, dual-sports, etc. Etc.

LOL. The cruiser riding position seems really weird at first if you're not used to it. It's been compared to 'sitting on a padded toilet while playing the piano'. But it's not bad once you get used to it.

Harley has painted themselves into a corner. They can't go on making big single-crankpin V-twins forever--for one thing, smog laws will kill them. But Harley buyers don't want a shaft-drive water-cooled V4 or inline 4 or a radical triple design or anything like that. They want a 1930 'replibike'. This year Harley came out with a couple of 'entry level trainers'. 500 and 750cc water cooled v-twins. I don't think they will sell as well as hoped. A few years ago they came out with a radical water-cooled design, the Street Rod, that was rejected by the US marketplace because it didn't look like a Harley! So they are very constrained in how much they can innovate.

The Japanese mfgrs., OTOH, are driven by innovations, by 'thinking outside the box'. They're making cruisers that look more and more like Harleys (until you run your hands over them and see how much is made of chromed plastic. 8^< ), but they're also making all the other categories.

I raced Yamaha for almost 40 years though I did own a Honda or two during that time but I'm real happy with the Triumph Tiger that is my current street machine.
Grew up on the back of my uncle's Harley, never wanted to own one except maybe a stripped down dirt-track racer.

I like Honda street bikes (the old V4's) and the Yamaha YZ250 for dirt. But I will ride anything if you give me the opportunity. Except scooters.

I love old Honda twins. Fix them up for fun.

Love KTM and BMW adventure bikes. Big bikes with good offroad ability/oompf for touring.

Love the Kawasaki Versys, got to borrow one for several hundred miles and fell in love with it.

Not a big modern Harley fan, but love the old KR, Sporties, Pans and XRs for what they were. Wish they wouldn't have dumped Buell, would love one for a cruiser VS. A modern HD. Cruiser riding position is torture for me.

Love KLR650, XT500, and a lot of dual sports from all manufactures…

People have different tastes, different expectations, different riding styles and different budgets, so there are bikes made by different manufacturers attempting to capitalize on each of the markets.

One of the most practical benefits to Harley is the virtually unlimited availability of parts and accessories.

"One of the most practical benefits to Harley is the virtually unlimited availability of parts and accessories. "

The other big benefit is the ability to haul around people over 300 lbs (sometimes in pairs).

Most other bikes can't do that.

It's personal preference; I've been riding for over 50 years, and I only ride Harleys! I'm a Certified motorcycle mechanic. In my opinion, Honda is the best engineered motorcycle in the world!

I've owned all the brands you listed + a Suzuki.
Ridden a Kawasaki too, although I didn't buy it.

Why?
Because I could…
And I still can and do.